On Saying Goodbye and Hello at Once
Granddaughter hugs,
deep in the neck,
our silent vow to stay strong enough
to play and then rise
from the floor with ease.
this vow
etched not in ceremony and ritual
but in the heart’s vaulted chambers.
Being a grandparent,
a friend
and a heady presence
deep in neck hug
silent commitments are made
with everyday acts of love
not burdened by destination,
but illuminated three feet ahead
with clarity and intent lit in their focus,
three foot fixes,
some now, some forever,
slow walking and waking understanding,
quiet echoes of a thorough life shared,
a symphony of small acts
buried first and forever
in a neck hug
that
just
won’t
quit.